Distance Education Policy and Public Awareness in Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam

Abstract

The current project brings together academic and governmental specialists from Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam (CLV), in a collaborative study of the prospects for distance education (DE) in those countries. The study’s overall objectives are to: (1) survey and take stock of existing educational scenarios and problems in CLV; (2) document the policies and research relating to DE practices in CLV and beyond; (3) discuss these policies and practices with national core groups, policy and decision makers; (4) initiate strategies for networked collaboration among CLV’s educational institutions; (5) build DE capacity by “training the trainers” in a variety of distance teaching and learning skills; and (6) formulate recommendations for the development of detailed DE initiatives in the three nations. This article reports on the early stages of this project: the implementation of a stakeholder survey in the three countries, and a study of existing policies and practices. The project is funded in 2005–2008 by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), whose PANdora model provides a collaborative basis to assist the teams in developing a common research strategy and in avoiding duplication of effort